Govt must set example as largest public employer, SC says
ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Wednesday said the government, being the largest public employer, must conduct itself as a model, since good governance requires clarity not only at the policy stage but also in making rules and their subsequent implementation. The observation was made while restoring the promotion of Muhammad Shafiq, a former elementary school teacher (physical education)…
The Supreme Court has emphasized that the government, as the largest public employer, must demonstrate exemplary governance practices. In a ruling that restored the promotion of Muhammad Shafiq, a former elementary school teacher, the court clarified that ambiguity in rules leads to governance failures. Justice Ayesha Malik, who authored the six-page judgement, warned that failure to provide clear career paths can result in unjust treatment of employees.
The petitioner's promotion was initially granted in May 2020 but was subsequently withdrawn on May 24, 2023, sparking the legal challenge. The court noted that inconsistencies in the service structure, such as unclear rules and the reliance on notes rather than the main rules, create uncertainty and hinder employees' progress. The court stressed that good administration requires legal certainty, which demands coherent, predictable rules that can be easily applied.
The judgement highlighted that structural gaps often result from policies developed without proper consultation or understanding of the service's ground-level functioning. The court emphasized that resolving such deficiencies is the responsibility of the state, and good governance necessitates clear, fair, and efficient rule-making processes.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
